Val’s Crafty Corner: DIY Rhythm Shakers

This idea for crafty fun is brought to you by Melissa & Doug, written by our Blog Ambassador Valerie Deneen.

Enjoy crafting with your kids!-Valerie

Do your kids enjoy making music? Are you in need of a super-quick craft to keep the kids busy? Do you need a little more percussion in your life?? Then this quick craft to make rhythm shakers from cardboard tubes is for you!

First, gather your materials. To make your own rhythm shakers, you will need: cardboard tubes, wax paper, markers, beads or dried beans, and some rubber bands.

Next, invite your child over to decorate the cardboard tube! We love our Melissa & Doug washable markers because they don’t roll, have bright colors, and they are the perfect size and shape for little hands. Clara is particularly fond of the purple markers!

I covered one end of the cardboard tube with wax paper and used a rubber band to hold the wax paper in place. Then Clara added some beads to the shaker. This was her favorite part! No beads on hand? Dried beans will work well for this instead.

Finally, I covered the other end with wax paper held in place with a rubber band, and it was time to shake, shake, shake!!! Crank up some tunes, and play along!

Experiment with different sized cardboard tubes, different sized or numbers of beads/beans. Do they make different sounds?

Perfect for traveling! We’ve partnered with our friends at Highlights for Children to bring some extra creative fun to your children this summer, with our FREE 10-page Boredom Busters printable activity book for kids! Check it out!